I
applied for a prison visitor’s pass through Prisoners’ Friends’ Association (http://www.pfa.org.hk/eng/resources/pv1.htm)
in 2010 as per Sr. Flora’s suggestionbecause there
are several Indonesians in the Hong Kong
correctional institutions. Mr. Jack Fung, the chairman of Prisoners’ Friend’s
Association, helped to book the room to meet an Indonesian inmate in Lo Wu Correctional Institution
but I couldn’t visit her yet as they were preparing the re-opening ceremony and
I should leave for Guangzhou
on Sep 3, 2010.http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.hk/2010/09/sharing-part-time-ministry-in-hong-kong.html.Several months later, I did my first visit
with Srs. Felicitas and Flora followed by several
visits during my language study break.

I started to visit Putonghua
speaking inmates in Lo Wu Correctional Institution on Jan 9,
2012. Most of the times, I asked questions and listened to their sad stories
and if I didn’t understand what they said, we changed the topics. http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.hk/2012/01/sharing-last-two-months-of-third.html.

Starting
last Jul 2012, Ms. Li asked me to visit Tai Lam Institution
Centre for Women, around two hours from our convent, because there are enough
visitors at Lo Wu Correctional Institution.I met the inmates
in one of the rooms of the social welfare office so it’s in a more friendly
situation.After a while, I also meet
English speaking inmates.There were times
when the officer asked a Vietnamese inmate and a Spanish
speaking inmate to meet me,
we couldn’t speak to each other at all so I made body languages: both hands in
my chest, bow my head and make sign of the cross as a sign to offer to pray
together.They agreed so we prayed
together.To the Spanish speaking inmate,
I pointed to myself and said “hermana” a Spanish word for “sister”, later on
she said there was another Spanish speaking inmate who can speak English outside
so we called her to be a translator.During the last two years, I met inmates from mainland China, Indonesia,
Africa, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Latin America.

The reasons of their imprisonment are various, e.g.
overstaying, working illegally, stealing, drug trafficking.The general reasons are looking for better
financial situation, even though several of them said they are not guilty.

Several of them didn’t want to talk a lot, several of
them wanted to talk a lot, even wanted to meet again.One or two of them could share their stories
with smile, several of them were in tears most of our time together.Several of them couldn’t sleep well, most of
them could eat well.

I do know I only can do simple things in our short
encounter: being presence, listening to their stories, answering their
questions, and praying with them, sometimes I couldn’t hold my tears as they
were in tears.

Last Oct 23, I joined “Prison Walk 2012”, an annual
fundraising of PFA.We met at Shau Kei
Wan MTR station and then went by bus to Lai Chi Rehabilitation Centre.There are 52 participants from several
nationalities including non-member.An
officer gave a presentation about the training centre for the young
offenders.After the presentation, we
walked to the beautiful Big
Wave Beach.The PFA’s treasurer Mr. Robert Allender gave
me more information about the PFA on the way to the beach.We stayed at the beach for a while and then everyone
can decide whether staying longer or walking to Chai Wan MTR station.I decided to go Chai Wan MTR with Mr. Robert
Allender, the walk leader Ms. Tess Kimura, Mr. Junichi and two Japanese
guys.It’s around 3 hours walk in total
including climbing the hill and going down through the Chai Wan cemetery.My legs started to be in pain the next day
afternoon.It’s a very nice to meet several
new friends, including Mrs. Sue Lau and PFA chairman Mr. Jack Fung whom I
communicated by email and telephone during the last two years.

After
visiting Tai Lam CI on Nov 1, I attended the 30th Anniversary Annual
Gathering Meeting of PFA at Duke of Windsor Social Service Building.AGM started with call to order by MC Ms. Beverly
Chau and Ms. Heidi Cheng and welcoming remarks to Official Guests from PFA
Chairman Mr. Jack Fung.Vice Chairman Mrs.
Lorna Gabinera read two letters of appreciation from former members.There are more than 30 participants,
including Correctional Service Department (CSD) officers, member and non-
member.Honorable Commisioner of
Correctional Services Mr. Sin Yat Kin gave address followed by giving
certificate of appreciation for several categories.He said that over the past 30 years, members
of PFA have given unfailing support to persons in custody and he is sure that
the PFA will continue to shine and guide persons in custody towards a bright
future.I received certificate of
appreciation as “Prison Walk 2012 Top Fundraiser”.For sure, this certificate is also given to
my very generous friends who sponsored my participation at Prison Walk 2012.After that, Mr. Tam Po Shek entertained us
with his beautiful “dongxiao” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiao_%28flute%29)
performance.Previous Chairman of PFA Rev. Charles
McKnelly gave message followed by supper and the
opportunity to dialogue with CSD officers.The second parts of AGM were annual report of activities by Mr. Jack
Fung followed by PFA Treasurer’s report by Mrs. Tess Kimura and election of
Executive Committee 2010-2011.In his
report, Mr. Jack Fung said that there are 86 visiting members and 30 pen
pals.Recently PFA printed 3,300 copies
of bilingual newsletter, which was sponsored by the Matilda Sedan Chair Race
funding, to be distributed to different institutions in Hong Kong.As a result, more inmates ask for a pen
friend and express their appreciation in reading them.

I am so grateful for my membership at PFA which
gives me the opportunity to be with the inmates, to listen to their struggles,
and to pray with them.It also gives me
the opportunity to widen my circle of friends especially with those who are
working in prison ministry.Last but not
the least, it also an experience of God’s Providence
through my generous friends.May God
continue to bless our work for the inmates in Hong Kong!

As
part of centennial celebration, Maryknoll Sisters China
region held a thanksgiving Mass on Oct 27, the birthday of our foundress Mother
Mary Joseph, at St. Theresa’s Church-Hong Kong.Srs. Joanna and Molly also joined our
celebration.There weremore than ten celebrants
besides
Fr. Paul Kam as the main celebrants.

Our Mass was in between two wedding
Masses so
with the help of several volunteers, weprepared and
cleaned
up the Church quickly.Several students of Maryknoll Convent School (MCS) Secondary
Section helped to distribute liturgy booklet before the Mass and centennial
pens and holy card after the Mass.

Sr. Michelle in her English welcome noteshared the reason of choosing Oct 27 for our celebration.She said that the
month of October is Mission month, a reminder
that we all are called to share in Christ’s mission to bring the Good News to
others; Oct. 9th, 1955 Mother Mary Joseph died peacefully; today,
we celebrate the birthday of our Foundress, Mother Mary Joseph.There was a lamp on the altar because one of Mother Mary Joseph
favorite quotes was from Lowell’s poem Yussouf “As one lamp
lights another nor grows less, so nobleness enkindles nobleness.”

The
first reading in Cantonese was taken from Is 42: 1-4
while the second reading in English was read by Sr. Sue which was taken from
Rom 10: 13-15.Fr.
Brian read the Gospel and gave the homily both in English.

Sr. Norma in her Chinese dress professed her final
vows in Cantonese and English after being called forward by Sr. Annie.

I
read the prayers of the faithful in Indonesian while the rest of the prayers
were in English, Vietnamese, Spanish, Tagalog
and Cantonese.

After communion, each sister took turn to pronounce
our name and then renewed our vows together. Sr. Annie in her thank you note said, “Here they met and
fell in love with the thousands of women, men and children who welcomed them
and showed then the language and culture of their villages and cities.How does one thank generations of people who
have shared our lives for 90 years?” besides mentioned a few names of those
present.Here is the link of the closing song: http://audioboo.fm/boos/1028171-maryknoll-sister-s-100th-year-celebration-closing-hymn.
The Mass ended with group pictures with all celebrants and then singing
“Maryknoll my Maryknoll.”

Tea reception after Mass including cutting
the centennial cake was held at Maryknoll Convent School
Primary Section, followed by the opening of the Maryknoll
Convent School Heritage Centre.

After touring to Heritage Centre, Srs.
Norma, Agnes and I visited Garden of Peace, which was blessed on Oct
19 by Fr. Brian, and the prayer room both at Secondary
Section to see the tribute to the Maryknoll Sisters who have served in the China Region. Here is the link of the video of the blessing ceremony: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97waCE1ihXM

As Fr. Lu of Holy Family Chapel
Luo Hu-Shenzhen accompanied me to go to bus stop after our first meeting last
August 30, he said “Start here”, and then pointed out a sign on the wall.I thought it’s one of the signs from God
about my outreach in mainland.I never
heard about Holy Family Chapel till my visit to Jiangmen and how God prepared
the ways to start from here.

Following all of the signs and with
the support of my sisters during our last Sep 2 meeting, I went to Holy Family Chapel
on Sep 8.Shenzhen is a special economic
zone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenzhen and also a special zone in church
territory as it’s not belongs to any diocese in mainland.There are two churches and several chapels in
Shenzhen managed by ten priests from different places e.g. Beijing, Shandong, and
Handan.

Fr. Lu, from Handan Diocese, and
several children welcome me in the chapel and then accompanied me to check in
at the inn next door.Then Fr. Lu
teaches the children to sing for the Sunday morning Mass.Twelve children learned to sing 那(nà)双(shuāng)不(bù)看(kàn)见(jiàn)的(de)手(shǒu)(=Invisible Hands) from the video of a children
choir, who lost their parents during the flood in 1998 in Taiwan, http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTAyNjIxNg==.html while Fr. Lu
played the guitar.They also practiced
to sing 天(tiān)父(fù)的(de)花(huā)园(yuán)(Father’s Flower Garden http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDI0OTkzNzUy.html) and then introduced
themselves in English as requested by Fr. Lu.He also asked me to give a comment about them.I said in Mandarin that I am happy to know
and to be with them, who like to sing and they are cute.

A parishioner, Fr. Lu and I then had
supper before having Mandarin anticipated Sunday Mass at 8.00 pm.Mass was celebrated by Fr. Lu and Fr. Zhang,
who initiated this chapel when he was assigned at St. Anthony Church-Shenzhen
and moved back to Beijing several months ago.

The Mandarin Sunday morning Mass is at
9.00 am and celebrated by Fr. Lu and a priest from Gansu.The children brought the offertory: candles,
two floral bouquets, bread and wine and then sang 那双不看见的手after Communion.Before the Mass, one of the readers will read
part of catechism.It’s full packed with several additional chairs
outside the chapel. After Mass, I had a talk with a young woman and then had
lunch with two parishioners, the priest and deacon from Gansu, and Fr. Lu.I had a chance to go around the area in the
afternoon and then attended Mandarin Sunday evening Mass at 8.00 pm.It was celebrated by Fr. Zhang, Fr. Lu and
the priest from Gansu.After Mass, I had
a talk with another woman including sharing my vocation story and then prayed
together with her and another three women one by one.I informed them that I would make sign a
cross, silent for a while, praying in English, inviting them to say a prayer,
then, I will continue to pray in English, and then say Our Father, Hail Mary
and Glory Be in Mandarin.I couldn’t
pray Hail Mary and Glory Be in Mandarin as fast as they are so I just listened
to their prayer.We finished almost
11.00 pm.

The Sunday Masses, at least 1.30 hour including
several prayers before and after the Mass in Chaozhou dialecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaozhou, are well prepared by several groups e.g. Reader,
Altar Server, Choir, Power Point, and Usher.The women readers wear green blouse and black skirt while the men
readers are in black with green tie because it’s Ordinary Time. Several parishioners, adult and kids, help in
2-3 Masses e.g. a young guy is in choir for Saturday and Sunday evening Mass
and lector for Sunday morning Mass.There
is the order of the Mass in a simplified Chinese characters power point. A laywoman takes care of the children.

The daily Mandarin Masses are at
7.45 am with prayer before and after the Mass in Chaozhou dialect and several
songs well prepared in power point including the order of the Mass in traditional
Chinese characters.After Mass, Fr. Lu
and I had breakfast with two parishioners and then went back to chapel.I checked out from the inn before leaving
with Fr. Lu and a parishioner to do a home visit.We had a homemade lunch together with another
three parishioners.

I went back to Hong Kong around 3.30
pm with promise to go back the next Saturday.I am so grateful for the warm welcome and hospitality of Fr. Lu and the
parishioners.As one of the parishioners said “修(xiū)女(nǚ)，感(gǎn)谢(xiè)天(tiān)主(zhǔ)你(nǐ)能(néng)来(lái)这(zhè)里(lǐ)“(Sister, Thanks be to God that you can come here), I also want to say
“Thanks be to God that I can start my outreach to mainland from Holy Family Chapel“
which is Mandarin speaking community and close to my Hong Kong community.